On the day when Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy won her second Oscar award for her documentary "A girl in the river" (about honour killings in Pakistan) Punjab Governor Malik Rafique Rajwana Monday signed the Protection of Women Against Violence Bill, as approved by the provincial assembly to put it on statute books as a law much against the opposition of religious and orthodox political parties/circles.
The stated aim of the new law is to ensure justice to women victims and to empower them, placing them on an equal footing with the male population. The law stands out, as compared to previously passed bills, on domestic violence as it also provides civil remedies-protection, residence and or monetary order-for all the offences it covers. This is in addition to, and not contradictory to or abrogating, the existing laws on violence against women crimes.
Under the new law violence has been redefined to mean any offence committed against the human body of the aggrieved person, including abetment of an offence, domestic violence, sexual violence, psychological and emotional abuse, economic abuse, and stalking and cyber crime. The Act introduces for the first time an in-built implementation mechanism through the district Violence Against Women Centres (VAWCs), court orders (residence, protection and monetary), introduction of GPS tracked electronic bracelets-anklets to enforce protection orders and power to enter any place to rescue the women victims.
Under the new arrangements, a toll-free number (UAN) will also be introduced to receive complaints while a district protection committee will be set up to investigate women's complaints in this regard. Special Centres will also be set up for reconciliation and resolution of disputes concerning women. The Protection officers will be liable to inform the defendant whenever a complaint is received. Offering resistance to the protection officers will be punishable by up to six months imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 500,000.
Through a residence order, the victim has a right to stay in the house if she doesn't want to vacate it or the defendant has to provide an alternative accommodation to the victim if she wants so. Further, if she is being harassed or stalked, she can claim a protection order which ordains the defendant not to communicate with her or stay at a certain distance from her. In addition, the victim can also seek monetary relief from the defendant to meet expenses occurred and losses suffered through monetary orders under this piece of legislation.
It may be added that political parties and religious seminaries have opposed the new legislation saying it was against teachings of Quran and Sunnah and would destroy family fabric of our society. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam F (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman criticised the members of the Punjab Assembly and said the rulers have sworn not to make any laws in accordance with the Quran and the Sunnah.